b'S.A.F.E, Taste & Smell Training for Students in Speech Language PathologyShelby L. Beckett and Margaret A. HarveySponsor: Dr. Ruth Renee Hannibal,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Special EducationSignificant physiologic changes such as hearing, vision, smell, and taste occur in our bodies as a part of normal aging. While the literature is replete with information on normal aging changes, there is a paucity of literature on normal aging changes in the African American population, specifically, African American females. The purpose of this research was to investigate the aforementioned senses in community dwelling African American females in Valdosta/Lowndes areas. Forty females ranging in ages from 22-83 participated in the study. Results revealed that there was no significant correlation between age and perceptual changes (i.e. vision, hearing, taste, and smell). However, there was a significant correlation between age and changes in the oropharyngeal mechanism.Establishing Normative Swallowing DataHayley M. Theobald and Emily R. BaileySponsor: Dr. Mary M. Gorham-Rowan,Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Special EducationDysphagic patients often do not finish meals and obtain adequate nutrition because of fatigue. Speech-language pathologists need normative rates of swallowing data for healthy individuals in order to write goals for dysphagia therapy. Our research looks at how healthy adults, at two stages in life, differ in rate of swallowing with varying food consistencies. Following the USDA daily recommended portion guide, participants were asked to consume a protein, grain, and fruit. By collecting data from healthy participants, speech-language pathologists will have evidence-based research on how many functional swallows individuals should be able to perform to obtain adequate nutrition.42'